§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that repeated applications on the part of the Brothers Natu, who were arrested at Poona on the 20th July last, and have since been detained in gaol with no charge formulated against them for liberty to be granted to their legal advisers to see them have been refused, and that inquiries of these gentlemen as to the matter charged against them, and the evidence on which the proceedings against them are founded, have remained unanswered by the Government; and whether, having regard to the fact that the Natu brothers have now been in close imprisonment without having been charged with any offence or brought to trial for upwards of seven months, they will be either immediately brought to trial or discharged?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe Natus have been informed of the reasons for their arrest in the terms of the Regulation, but access to their legal advisers has not been granted. I am aware that they have made one application on this subject which was answered; whether they have made more than one I do not know. The detention of the Natus under personal restraint must continue until the Government of India and Bombay are satisfied that their release will not endanger the public tranquility.
§ MR. MACNEILLHave the brothers Natu been told what charge was made against them by the Government?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThey have been informed of the reasons of their arrest in the terms of the regulation.
§ MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)May I ask the noble Lord whether there is any intention of bringing these men to trial at all?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIANo, Sir; if there were evidence to justify their being put on a criminal charge recourse would not have been had to this Act.